Time to Shine Campaign Launches Into Public Phase with Unprecedented Momentum

MEMPHIS – University of Memphis President M. David Rudd and Athletics Director Tom Bowen announced Wednesday the University has secured donations and pledges which represent 60 percent of its goal for facility additions and improvements during a press conference to kickoff the public engagement phase of the Time to Shine Capital Campaign.

More than $24 million of a $40 million goal is now committed toward renovation of the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex, including a new indoor practice facility, and a new basketball practice and training facility. The facilities are to be built with 100 percent private donations.

The Time to Shine Capital Campaign will not only significantly enhance practice and training facilities for Memphis athletics, but also continues investing to transform the Park Avenue Campus.

In addition to athletic facilities, the Park Avenue Campus is home to the Community Health Building, which will be dedicated Friday afternoon. The Community Health Building is the new home of the UofM’s Loewenberg School of Nursing, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Memphis Speech and Hearing Center, and the future Autism Center.

As interim president at the University of Memphis, Brad Martin announced the capital campaign in October of 2013. In early December of that year, Martin and Bowen reported a $10 million gift from alumni Bill and Nancy Laurie. By securing the $10 million lead gift, Memphis was well on its way toward its $40 million goal for the capital campaign.

In less than two years, Memphis has now reached 60 percent of its financial goal. The project is truly unique as the facilities are 100 percent philanthropic. There are no event-related benefits such as seating or parking tied to donations to the project.

Wednesday’s announcement of the Time to Shine Capital Campaign is an opportunity for fans of Tiger Nation to consider how they will contribute to a critical campaign which will have an impact on generations of Tigers to come.

“Every great city deserves a great university. Success at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics can be transformative, not just for the University of Memphis, but for the city of Memphis,” said Rudd. “The NCAA landscape is shifting rapidly and this campaign is vital in order to keep the Tigers at the forefront of these critical changes. The opportunity to position the University of Memphis among the top institutions on the court and on the field is real and one which we must be prepared to capitalize.”

Groundbreaking for both the basketball and football facilities will begin this fall. Both facilities will be substantially completed prior to the 2017-18 academic year.

“Never before has our University seen such an outpouring of support for a facility of this magnitude,” said Tom Bowen, Memphis Director of Athletics. “These training facilities will enhance our ability to build championship programs by investing in the physical, nutritional and academic resources we provide for our student-athletes and coaches. Once completed, we will boast some of the finest practice centers for football and men’s basketball in the country.”

In addition to a new indoor practice facility, renovations and additions to the Murphy complex will include coaches’ offices as well as spaces for enhanced student-athlete academic, nutrition and athletic development for Memphis Football.

“These facilities will be a major step forward for our football program,” said UofM head football coach Justin Fuente, whose team is coming off an American Athletic Conference title and an unprecedented 10-win season in 2014. “Not only will we have the ability to practice indoors and provide amenities to feed our players, but our coaches will be relocated to the Murphy Complex where our student-athletes eat, train, study and prepare each week. This will create a true home environment for our entire program and make everything we do more efficient and effective.”

The men’s basketball segment of the project will feature a comprehensive training facility for the nationally-branded program. The stand-alone facility will encompass offices, locker rooms, weight room, training facilities and basketball practice facility, as well as spaces for student-athletes to train, eat and develop. In addition, the history of Memphis basketball will be showcased via a large atrium in the grand lobby, known as Traditions Hall.

“Constructing a facility of this magnitude is further evidence of the University’s commitment to compete at the highest level,” said Memphis head basketball coach Josh Pastner. “This is where our players will spend the vast majority of their time and these state-of-the-art facilities will enable us to provide them every opportunity to be successful. We are extremely grateful to the University administration, our generous donors and the fans of Tiger Nation for their support in making this dream a reality for our program.”

Fans can learn more about the capital campaign by visiting timetoshinememphis.com. Supporters of Memphis Athletics have several ways in which they can donate to the campaign.